Master of Arts (Asian Studies)
Faculty of Asian Studies, Australian National University
Contents |
Introduction
The ANU is a major world centre for teaching and research on Asia and the ANU College of Asia and the Pacific is the leading centre for Asian Studies in Australia, unrivalled in the breadth of its interests and the depths of its expertise. The Faculty of Asian Studies cooperates with other schools within the College – including the Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, the Crawford School of Economics and Government, the Asia-Pacific College of Diplomacy – as well as the ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences, the ANU College of Business and Economics and the ANU College of Law, to offer the widest range of Asian Studies available in Australia, both at undergraduate and graduate levels. There are some 200 Asian specialists at ANU. The Faculty’s programs are backed by exceptional library resources comprising more than 70 per cent of Australia’s total Asian Studies resource material, in the University Libraries and the National Library of Australia.
The Faculty of Asian Studies offers Asian language programs in:
- Arabic
- Chinese
- Hindi
- Indonesian
- Japanese
- Korean
- Sanskrit
- Thai
- Urdu/Persian
- Vietnamese
It is also possible to study the classical forms of languages of the region including Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Malay and Javanese. Courses covering introductory Burmese, Tetum (the indigenous language of East Timor), Cantonese and Lao are also offered, according to demand, either as ‘stand-alone’ offerings or as a complement to related language programs.
Entry requirements
Bachelor degree with minimum 2A Honours or equivalent and minimum introductory level Asian language skills (equivalent to one year of university study). This Program can be taken full-time (two years) or part-time (four years).
Students who do not meet the entry requirements for the Master of Arts (Asian Studies) may enrol in the Master of Asia-Pacific Studies (MAPS). On completion of the MAPS with a distinction average, they may be admitted to the Master of Arts (Asian Studies) with credit granted for all coursework units. Students planning to progress in this way, should contact the Graduate Administrator before commencing study.
How to apply
Applications for the Master of Arts (Asian Studies) should be submitted through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) for local domestic students. Admission is usually available in the First and Second Semester, Full and Part Time. Interested students should submit their UAC applications in August/September of the year prior to commencing study or in April for commencement in Second Semester. It is important to apply through UAC on time to avoid late fees.
International Students may apply directly to the Faculty of Asian Studies or online at:
http://students.anu.edu.au/apply_online.asp
Master of Arts (Asian Studies) Program
The Master of Arts (Asian Studies) is an advanced qualification that combines coursework study with a sub-thesis of 20,000 to 30,000 words. The coursework component includes advanced study of an Asian language and an elective component of focused study of the specialisation.
Four specialisations are available in the program:
- Applied Japanese Linguistics
- Southeast Asian Studies
- East Asian Studies
- South Asian Studies
In line with the ANU Graduate Award Rules, final assessment for the Master of Arts (Asian Studies) is determined by aggregated averaged results to produce a final grade as follows:
- 80-100 First Class Honours
- 70-79 Second Class Honours (Division A)
- 60-69 Second Class Honours (Division B)
- 50-59 Third Class Honours
For example: Master of Arts (Asian Studies) — specialising in Southeast Asian Studies with First Class Honours. The decision to grant an award remains with the Delegated Authority.
Structure of Program
The Master of Arts (Asian Studies) is a 96-unit program. The full-time curriculum involves a 48-unit coursework component, during the first two semesters. In their second year students are required to submit a sub-thesis of 20,000- 30,000 words worth 48 units. The structure of the Applied Japanese Linguistics specialisation differs slightly.
Students are expected to achieve a distinction (70 per cent) level average from the coursework in order to proceed to the sub-thesis year. This provision also applies to students transferring to Master of Arts (Asian Studies) from the Master of Asia-Pacific Studies. Students are required to work with an appointed academic supervisor to submit a clearly defined research proposal prior to enrolling in the research component of the program.
For course details please visit http://info.anu.edu.au/studyat/
Requirements for the Master of Arts (Asian Studies) sub-thesis
Careers for graduates
Career prospects for Asian Studies graduates in both the public and private sectors are very good. As Australia moves toward increased diplomatic, security, educational, business, legal and cultural interaction with Asia, the demand for people with Asian language training and knowledge of the area is increasing.
Many government departments and agencies (including the Department of Defence, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Attorney-General’s Department and Statutory bodies concerned with International affairs), non-government organisations and businesses have a need for graduates who have Asian language skills and who are able to work in policy and analysis areas dealing with Asia. Asian Studies graduates find employment in marketing, international trade, banking and finance, teaching, and tourism. Postgraduate professional qualifications in translation and / or interpreting are also in demand.
Asian Studies graduates are also employable in areas not directly related to their language and area studies because the training they obtain develops the ability to carry out research, communicate ideas and suggest solutions to problems. Employers value not only the graduates’ high level of intellectual training, but also their mental flexibility in acquiring in-depth knowledge of other cultures and the ability to cope with uncertainty and rise to challenges.